Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent

(Isaiah 1:10.16-20; Matthew 23:1-12)

In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus wages a war on hypocrisy.  He emphasizes it in the Sermon on the Mount.  There he warns his disciples not to fast, pray, or give alms for show.  In today’s passage he critiques the Pharisees for not practicing what they preach. 

Then Jesus tells his disciples that they are brothers and sisters to on another.  As such, he does not want anyone to assume greater respect or honor than anyone else.  He becomes specific in what this means.  They are not to call one another, “Rabbi,” “teacher,” “master,” or “father.”  These titles are used among the Pharisees to covet honor. 

We in the Church have not taken Jesus literally in this command.  Teachers inside the Church abound.  Priests are almost universally called “Father.”  The transgressions on the part of the people may be readily forgiven.  They have a long tradition and often give comfort to those who seek spiritual wisdom.  But clericalism – the pretension that priests are better and more deserving of honor than lay persons – is a tragic sin.  It is tragic because Orders is a sacrament of service, not of domination.  It is a sin because it subverts the unity Jesus intends among his disciples.

Monday, March 9, 2020

Monday of the Second Week of Lent

(Daniel 9:4b-10; Luke 6:36-38)

The man gives God thanks every day.  When he was young, he was always in trouble.  He couldn’t stay out of fights.  He was convicted of assault and battery as well as using drugs.  After doing a couple of prison terms, he was facing a thirty-five year sentence.  Then he was shown mercy.  He credits God, but certainly a judge had something to do with his being given another chance.  In this case any risk the judge took proved imminently worthwhile.  The man has turned his life around.  He is married and raising a family.  He owns a prosperous small business.  He is also the youth minister of his parish.  In today’s gospel Jesus recommends that his disciples show mercy as the wise judge in this story.

When Jesus says that his disciples should not judge, he does not mean that they put on rose-colored glasses.  No, they are to distinguish right from wrong, but they are not to condemn others.  Quite the opposite, they should be ready to forgive with any good reason.   Jesus then promises that their mercy will be returned in good measure.

It is sometimes difficult to forgive because we see it as a betrayal of justice.  Jesus would agree that mercy without justice leads to problems.  But mercy tempers justice in that it allows those who have shown genuine remorse for their crimes to move on.  If everyone were to give strict repayment make up strictly for every offense tallied, many persons’ development would be stifled.  Worse yet, our society would become paralyzed. 

Friday, March 6, 2020

Friday of the First Week of Lent

(Ezekiel 18:21-28; Matthew 5:20-26)

If we were to ask St. Thomas Aquinas which is more important to offer a gift at the altar or to reconcile with someone whom we have offended, he would probably make a distinction.  (He always makes distinctions)  He would say something like in order of priority, we should reconcile with the offended person first.  But, he would add, in order of importance, it is greater to give God His due.

Jesus would no doubt agree.  What may surprise some, however, is that he does not say that an offering to God makes up for the offense against another human being.  But Jesus knows that humans are images of God.  As such, all of them – young and old, black and white – deserve not just a cool respect but our sincere love.  For Jesus it would be hypocrisy to worship God while ignoring the offenses we have committed against a neighbor.

These seven weeks of Lent are set aside to reconcile ourselves with both God and neighbor.  We need to make a thorough examination of conscience and to confess our sins.  We also need to recognize how we have offended others and to seek their forgiveness.

Thursday, March 5, 2020

Thursday of the First Week of Lent

(Esther C:12.14-16.23-25; Matthew 7:7-12)

Skeptics use gospel passages like the one today to demonstrate the folly of prayer.  They say something like, “Lord, give me a million dollars.”  Because they never receive the fortune, they conclude that God does not listen to prayers.  Of course, they misunderstand the kind of prayer that Jesus has in mind.

Jesus’ premise is that we go to God as His children.  He wants us to develop a relationship with God that is as close as the one many enjoy with a natural parent.  One man recalls how his father was the finest person he ever met.  He said his father was not educated but intelligent and, better, truthful and caring.  Trusting that God is eminently like this, we will find Him responsive to our petitions. 

We develop a filial relationship with God by showing Him gratitude for all that we have.  We thank God even for our own handiwork because it can be ultimately traced to Him.  Then we ask God for what we need.  We will do so humbly because He has already blessed us abundantly.  And we will find our prayers answered as surely as the sun rises.

Wednesday, March 4, 2020

Wednesday of the First Week in Lent

(Jonah 3:1-10; Luke 11:29-32)

The gospels record that Jesus performed many healings.  They also testify that he drove out many devils.  It may be asked then why do the people in today’s passage ask a sign of Jesus to prove his legitimacy.  Perhaps they want a sign “on demand.”  But that would be humans’ mandating the divine when the dynamic is meant to go the other way.  Nevertheless, Jesus offers them a sign of sorts.

Jesus tells the people that they will have the “sign of Jonah.”  In Luke’s gospel this does not mean being buried three days as Matthew’s.  The sign here is a preaching more compelling than one that moved millions – men and beasts alike -- to repentance.  Perhaps the people in Jesus’ day would say something like they do in ours.  For them Jesus’ preaching, which in this gospel includes the parables of the Prodigal Son and the Good Samaritan, is only “interesting.”

We have many reasons to follow Jesus.  His miracles, his teaching, as well as his preaching all point to a divine origin.  But the main reason we believe in Jesus is his crucifixion on our behalf together with his resurrection.  By it we have received every kind of grace.  Cross and resurrection provide us a model to emulate, a goal to anticipate, and a support along the way.